4.6 (11,501 Reviews)

Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer Tour from Kona in Hilo, HI

KapohoKine Adventures • Grand Naniloa DoubleTree by Hilton Lobby • Hilo, HI 96720
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KapohoKine Adventures Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona)
KapohoKine Adventures Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona)
KapohoKine Adventures Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona)
KapohoKine Adventures Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona)
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Overview

Go on a Hawaii stargazing adventure with ​​Kapohokine Adventures on Kona Island! One of the best locations in the world for stargazing is Mauna Kea due to its high altitude, remote position, and minimal light pollution. Take this Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer experience and use top-grade telescopes to look for constellations, planets, and flares!

up to 6 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

  • Plan your trip so close to a new moon for better experience and you get to see the milky way band as well!
  • Learn about everything from Hawaii including culture, folk lore, geography, volcanoes, history, and astronomy!
  • Tour is approx. 6 hours long.
  • Hotel pick up is available.
  • Beverages and dinner is included in the package.
  • Wear long pants as it gets chilly after the sun sets.
  • This is a guided driving tour that stops at Saddle Road and Mauna Kea.
  • This tour does not visit Maunakea’s summit out of deference to Native Hawaiian concerns.
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Description

Experience the wonders of Maunakea with the Stellar Explorer tour from KapohoKine Adventures, the only Big Island tour offering both nighttime stargazing and safe daytime solar viewing for all ages. Led by Hawaii’s most experienced guides, including those who have run the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center and contributed to top astronomy publications, this adventure begins in Hilo, where you'll explore iconic sites like Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, and Kaumana Caves.

As you traverse Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, your National Park Service-trained guide will share fascinating insights on volcanology, geology, and local flora and fauna. You'll safely view the sun through a state-of-the-art solar telescope, witnessing solar flares, sunspots, and more. As night falls, you'll head to a prime location on Mauna Kea for stargazing through a large aperture Dobsonian telescope, offering unparalleled views of galaxies, nebulae, planets, and more. Enjoy the evening with warm Kona coffee or hot chocolate before returning to your resort.

Please Note: This tour does not visit Maunakea’s summit or Visitor Center out of respect for Native Hawaiian concerns.
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Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona) Reviews

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hrjohns1
"Secrets of Puna with NCL"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed July 15, 2024
Would definitely recommend the Secrets of Puna Tour! Was able to see some beautiful scenery including lava fields, a black sand beach, beautiful cliffs and several sea turtles! Our guide was Marcus and he was FANTASTIC!!!! He was super friendly and very accommodating. He didn't rush us at all and made the trip very enjoyable...he was just go with the flow! Would definitely ensure you wear closed toe shoes as they're required and just know that "real" bathrooms aren't available often and the porta potties didn't always have toilet paper so you may want to bring some with you. BUT don't let that deter you...this was one of the best tours of the week! Make sure you get Marcus as your guide!
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jkosfeld
Minnetonka, Minnesota
"Hawaii tour"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed February 08, 2024
It was an excellent experience, The tour guide was friendly and very knowledgeable about the island.
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248jbc
"Amazing tour, entertaining and educational "
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed January 03, 2024
Ok, so Ray is a wealth of information, and Sam is just as informative. We did a Captain Cook snorkeling and Coffee tour in Kona, Hawaii, and my wife was the happiest I’ve seen her. I am here to say Wow, she and I will do it again.
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iowacityia
"Sunday, December 3rd day tour."
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed December 13, 2023
My wife and I took this van day tour as a Holland America cruise excursion. The title of the excursion was Hawaii Volcanoes National Park & Waterfall Explorer. We were picked up from the cruise terminal. Greeted by Hunter, he would be our driver, and our tour guide. Let me tell you right away that Hunter was great! Both as a driver, and especially as a tour guide. He is a pro. A great speaker. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. Our van tour started with an informative drive through Hilo. We did visit a couple of wonderful waterfalls, then Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Including the crater, steam vents, the visitors center, and then the lava tube. While by the crater we stopped for a nice picnic lunch. I think this ended up being around a 6-7hr tour. It went fast. This was our last excursion while visiting the Hawaiian islands on this cruise. And our last tour ended up being our best. Hunter did a great job. I would certainly do this tour again.
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Loritravels11
Grants Pass, Oregon
"A Fabulous Day in Hilo!!"
TripAdvisor user rating 5.0 out of 5
Reviewed November 10, 2023
I booked the Waterfalls and Volcano National Park Tour through Princess Cruises. We docked in Hilo at 8:00 and met our tour guide, Victor, in the terminal at 8:20. There were 12 of us in a modern van. Victor was so warm and personable, and made us all feel instantly comfortable! We spent over 7 hours touring different waterfalls and looking at the volcanos. He made the history of Hilo come to life! I learned so much! We had lunch in the afternoon, plenty of bathroom breaks, and an opportunity to pick up some souvenirs. The tour itinerary was good……but Victor was fabulous!!! I highly recommend any tour that he is leading!!
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cherylgJ3966DD
"Secrets of Puna"
TripAdvisor user rating 2.0 out of 5
Reviewed October 19, 2023
Secrets of Puna sounded like a wonderful excursion offered by our cruise. The trip started out wonderfully, with a few stops showing areas of past lava flow along the coastline. The second half of the trip was supposed to give us the availability of snorkeling and shopping. Well, we had 45 minutes at the hotel where the tour agency was located where snorkling was off a boat dock and shopping was at the hotel gift shop. Courtney, our tour guide, did a good job, but most tourists don't ay good money to go to a hotel gift shop.
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Magsonthemove
Orlando, Florida
"Look elsewhere, they don’t want your money."
TripAdvisor user rating 1.0 out of 5
Reviewed October 18, 2023
We stayed at the Grand Naniloa and attempted to rent kayaks every day of our stay. Every day we were told that we couldn’t due to “staffing issues” and to come back after 10am on Wednesday. We even checked on Tuesday to see if we needed to make reservations for Wednesday (the last day of our trip) and were assured that we didn’t need reservations just show up “anytime after 10am”. We showed up at 12:30 and were told we couldn’t rent a kayak even though there were 3 people at the desk because the one man that told us to come “anytime after 10” was going home soon. It would have been really helpful if he had said “anytime after 10am” meant 10-12pm. TLDR- even after asking everyday we still missed the 2 hour window they were willing to rent kayaks during the week. No one there could have cared any less that they’d given us the run around all week. Truly horrible service. Hilo ocean adventures is just down the road and the staff is actually nice and willing to do their jobs. Stop there first, I wish I had.
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Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona) is located at KapohoKine Adventures • Grand Naniloa DoubleTree by Hilton Lobby • Hilo, HI 96720
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer (Kona)

Where do we meet for the Mauna Kea Stellar Explorer trip?

You can be picked up at your hotel for this stargazing Big Island Hawaii tour! Please confirm you pick up date and time via the number located on your e-ticket.

How long is the tour?

The tour is approximately 6 hours long from beginning to end.

Should I eat before the tour?

Beverages and dinner is included in your tour price and experience.

Will the tour operate in the case of rain?

This stellar explorer experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What health restrictions are in place?

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Are there other tour restrictions I should know about?

Yes. The following tour restrictions and regulations apply: (1) State law requires child safety seats for all guests under 4 years of age. (2) Booster seats required for all guests between ages 4 and 7 and under 4 feet 9 inches tall and 80 pounds weight. (3) Guests under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. They are able to provide booster and safety seats for children who require them if given advance notice. Please note your request for a booster and/or safety seat when making your reservation, or by contacting the number located on your e-ticket.

What should I bring on the tour?

You must bring and present a government-issued ID. If desired, guests may bring a video camera/camera.

What is included in my tour?

You will get bottled water, driver and personal guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, dinner, and entry/admission to Saddle Road.

I have a food allergy or dietary restriction. Can this be accommodated?

Yes. Given advance notice, all food allergies and dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Please note this request when making your reservation and/or contact the number located on your eticket.

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